OnlyOnTwitter: Through the eyes of Olympians

Only the world’s best athletes get to experience the thrill and privilege of marching in the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremonies. And as they tweeted pictures during every step of their memorable night, they took all of us along with them.

Getting there... twitter.com/timbaillie/sta…
— Tim Baillie (@timbaillie) July 27, 2012

That close!!!!! Great Britain we are coming!!!!!! #takethestage twitter.com/shuvolleygb/st…
— shauna mullin (@shuvolleygb) July 27, 2012

@marielzagunis carrying the flag now! Almost there!! twitter.com/TimMorehouse/s…
— TimMorehouse (@TimMorehouse) July 27, 2012

The australian Olympic team soaking it in twitter.com/Wortho44/statu…
— Mark Worthington (@Wortho44) July 27, 2012

Aburridos con @lscola4 mientras se va llenando el arbolito de banderas!!! twitter.com/cabezadelfino/…
— Carlos Delfino (V) (@cabezadelfino) July 27, 2012

We made it! #london2012 twitter.com/ChayLapin/stat…
— Chay Lapin (@ChayLapin) July 27, 2012

Of course, @NBCOlympics was also front and center, tweeting the Parade:

Did you miss him? He's fast! Here's @usainbolt carrying the Jamaican flag: twitter.com/NBCOlympics/st…
— NBCOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2012

Even the evening’s star performer, Sir Paul McCartney, took a moment to Tweet his own backstage countdown:

Minutes away now! twitter.com/PaulMcCartney/…
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) July 27, 2012

The biggest spike in Twitter conversation during the Opening Ceremony? When Rowan Atkinson, a.k.a. Mr Bean, appeared in a hilariously memorable homage to the Olympians of “Chariots of Fire”.

To be part of moments like these as they unfold, follow along at Twitter.com/#Olympics.